Exploring new ways of seeing, new ways of being with an open heart and an open mind

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Sweeter Than Wine, Vintage 1942

Sometime last week, before heading to town to run some errands, I had a question concerning something or other, and, as I have done from time to time, I wondered what my dad would do, so I asked him. Almost immediately an answer popped into my head that felt exactly like what my dad would have said. I think I already knew the answer, but was looking for affirmation.

Not content with my affirmation, I decided to ask for confirmation. As is often the case, my answer arrived via the radio.

But first, some background.

When I was young, somewhere in my early 20's, I created a scrapbook of photos, along with song lyrics and poems that I knew my mom liked, and gave it to her for Mother's Day. One of the pages held a photo of Mom and Dad the summer they met. It's taken outside my grandparent's house, my mom's parents, shortly before they got married.

Years later, after I came along, I would sometimes hear my dad singing Jimmie Rodger's, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine." Not the entire song, just a verse or maybe the chorus. Dad was a dreamer, but he was also a doer and a practical man, not prone to outpourings of affection. Oftentimes, his affection came in the form of music. Both of my parents had great voices and loved to sing. Anyway, through the years I came to see it as their song. In the scrapbook I made for my mom, I placed that song next to their photo.

When I was heading down the highway last week, looking for some verification of what I thought was an answer from my dad, I turned on the radio and that song immediately came on. I hadn't heard it in years. Many, many years. I don't know if I call these things up, or the Universe drops them in my lap as a way of saying, 'keep moving, you're on the right path,' but it happens often, quite often through music, and I can't see it as just coincidence. There are millions of songs out there and I'm just a speck among them. Whatever it is that happens, I like it. It makes me feel connected to the vastness of the universe.

I also have a million stories I could tell about these two people. My cousin once said, after both had passed, that now the universe was right again, these two twin souls were reunited. I don't know if that's true, but there's no reason to believe it's not true. In a few days, my parents wedding anniversary comes 'round again. They didn't have a perfect marriage, I'm not sure such a thing exists, but they created together one beautiful life and left me so many things of great value. I will be eternally grateful for the day that picture was taken.

49 comments:

Hello Teresa:We do know what you mean when you say that you enjoy receiving signs that you feel make you are 'connected' to the 'universe'. We do think that in many, many ways if only we listened to the still small voices of Nature or the whispers in our souls then we should surely be guided along the path which is right for us. Perhaps in the frantic chaos that is daily life we do not have so many opportunities to do this but when such a response as you received happens, then it is indeed magical.

The photographs of your parents and of your sisters are absolutely charming and do capture a sense of place as well as time.

How fortunate you are to be plugged into the universe/natural order/cosmic consciousness! I often long for that kind of "magic" to happen to me, but alas, I somehow missed the boat on spirituality. So, I plod along hoping that I'll find it in the next life.

Isn't it funny how when we look at photos of our family, we see ourselves. When I look at family, I find myself thinking there really are no coincidences. There is so much energy stored all around us and inside us that when we are open, things happen and songs come to us through the radio as confirmation.

Your parents are so cute there! It looks like maybe you were the middle child?

Did you ever doubt that the Universe finds your life and spirit to be part of her? I Love this story, and the picture is filled with possibility, one of them being YOU. Thank you for sharing your synchronicity with me! :-)

Teresa -- Saw your comment on Towanda's post and hopped over to see what you were about. Liked the story about your dad and you asking him for advice. I had a dad that usually gave me great advice when I asked for it. Many days since he left this world I have had thoughts of him and wishes that he were still around to talk with about such and such happenings. We were lucky to have that knd of dad -- barbara

I'm such a pragmatist but when I heard something like your story... I want to believe that life is just enough of a mystery that a song on a radio could be for someone special and that we should take it for the gift it might be.I love this post and the photos too.

What a coincidence, Teresa, one of those coincidences, which really makes my sceptic soul wonder! I guess your tiny hair roots were rising, when the music came through the air - this song that meant so much to your parents. I remember that song and same version from the late 1950.

It was a magic experience you had, and I wish there was more to it. You know that I love magic and folklore and talk much about it. I want the magic to exist, but I'm the "doubtful Thomas". When you tell something like this, I wonder, but the Universe is filled with coincidences....

Jane and Lance, I have learned to be a better listener through the years and not just a better listener, but I'm learning to act, or not act on the "information" I receive whether form Nature or my sense of soul, as it responds to the One Soul. The more open I am to it, of course, the more I recognize and benefit from it. Thanks so much for your comments and sweet remarks about the photos. It's always a joy to hear from you.

Ms. Sparrow, I believe you and I have had a similar "conversation" before. I encourage you to stop "plodding" and start asking. :)It doesn't matter who you think you're asking, whether it be God, the Universe, some sense of a Higher Power, Or just Life itself, but Ask. And then start paying attention. Let your inner child's enthusiasm for life take hold and you will be surprised, if you allow yourself to be. :) It's never too late. This life IS "the next life" as far as I'm concerned, One continuous whole.

Towanda, My son talks about it being all One frequency and the radio is also on that frequency, so why shouldn't these things happen all the time (and they do).

I was the baby of five. I was hanging onto that garage window sill for dear life. My sister Jane, on the right was shy, and Chris, in the middle, was the middle child. We have an older sister and brother, Judy and Jerry.

Friko, It's still The Great Mystery to me, I pretend to KNOW nothing. I've had these types of experiences and even more "magical" ones my entire life, but have become even more aware of them as time goes on. I cherish them and welcome them. It's my life quest to understand it better, demonstrate it better, more effectively.

One Fly, I'm so glad you like my stories of these "synchronicities" and such. I bet they happen to you, too. We are all connected, so they have to. Now, I want you to report back to me with One of them, soon. tee hee.

DJan, I suppose doubt has crept in a time or two, but less and less. :) I like sharing these things with you. We're soul sisters. Now, would you please come over here and kick me in the but to get me going on some hiking?!? :)

Folkways Notebook, Barbara, I believe? I'm glad you stopped by and it sounds like we had similar relationships with our dads. I sometimes feel like I have an even better relationship now than when he was alive. Maybe I'm just listening to his advice better and he gave Great advice. Smart man, Funny man, too.

farmlady, Your pragmatism is filled with "magic" to me. I love the life you've created for yourself with the Prospector, and beautiful things happen to you all the time. Maybe there are more synchronicities in there than you've recognized, I don't know, but I believe, like you, that it's a Beautiful Mystery and I'm having fun looking at the clues Thank You!

Grethe, My favorite Skeptical Soul and doubting Thomas, I love your input and am so glad you've commented. Yes, the world is full of coincidences. In my case, it gives me a lot of pause of thought. I love reading your stories of folklore from your country. It expands my world in many ways. :)

I don't know what this sort of thing is called, Teresa, but, I know it. My mom and dad and grandmother come to me on occasion in remarkable ways; a song, a phrase in a book, even a glance from one of my girls, and the answers are always there. I think, perhaps, whatever it is called, it is always there and there are those of us that are receptive to it.

Pennies From Heaven. It was my dad's and my song. He made me believe, just by singing it, that it was a song about me. Ha! I still think it is.

Hi Penny, It really is a bout being receptive, and anyone can choose to be. I'm grateful I started paying attention. It expanded my world, my consciousness in remarkable ways. Life is endlessly interesting. I think Pennies from Heaven (AKA Penny's From Heaven) is about you. Absolutely. Your dad was right.

Rita, I'm so glad you stopped by and are going to return, it looks like. Yippee! I love meeting new friends and fellow bloggers. I'll be right over to check out your site.

A great post.... Taking time to Ask and to Listen is a huge step toward peace and fulfillment. Quite different from just following the rules (of a church, of society, whatever). Thanks for this, and also for the great old photos.

Your parents were gorgeous. I hate smoking but I love that dangling cigarette from those days. Also, Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man fits you to a T(eresa). Hee Hee Hee

"Thrown like a star in my vast sleepI open my eyes to take a peepTo find that I was by the seaGazing with tranquillity.'Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy ManCame singing songs of love,Then when the Hurdy Gurdy ManCame singing songs of love."

Cletis, I'm a Big Donovan fan. Can hear that song now. An interesting insight. Mmmmm....

My mom quit smoking when I was born, I was a "blue baby" and she thought her smoking had caused it, and she may have been right. Don't know, doesn't matter now. It never slowed me down one bit. Dad quit when I was about four years old. He kept a pack of Camels in his shirt pocket until it fell apart, just to show his own determination, I suppose.

I love old black and white photos. They always seem so crisp and clear don't they? People always posed the same way in them ~ ha ha ~ not so much creativeness as there is now a days with digital cameras. You had to make suer the photo was a good one as you only got one chance!

Teresa,A beautiful piece. " I think I already knew the answer, but was looking for affirmation". Yes, it really is all about asking and being receptive to the answer in any number of forms. Thank the stars for those moments when we are open to listening.

Sweeter than Wine. How that takes me back to good memories. This was a lovely post. Such fine old photos, speaking their stories through you.Hugs,Chris

Linda S, What I appreciate about it, is that it does offer real direction, with far better results than if we just move ahead out of ego or personal sense. There are times I could have been saved some valuable steps and even heartache, had I just followed through on the information I had received from that "still, small voice." Happy Sunday!

Alan, I appreciate your not needing to now. I don't believe I can know from this human sense, it's beyond my ken at present, but I am enjoying and appreciating the ways in which it seems to at least expand my world of understanding.Thanks so much for reading and commenting.